Improvement in trace-gearings



E. B. WINSLOW. TRACE-GEARING. No.174,050. f Patented 1=e`n..22,1876v.

m wwNEssEs Y www.

V2 is a longitudinal section of the same.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD R. WINsLoW, oF GIRARD, ILLiNoIs.

'IMPROVEMENT iN TRAcE-.GEARINGs Specification forming part of Letters Patent No.1 l74,050,ldated February 22, 1876; application tiled January 22, 1875.

To all whom Vit may concern: y L

Be it known that I, EDWARD B. WINSLOW, ot' Girard, in the county of Macoupin `and State of Illinois, have invented anewand Improved Trace-Gearing, ot' which `the following is a specification: y y j My improvement relates to means for couneeting the trace to the hametug in a manner which permits of its ready adjustment, and at the same time possesses allthe strength of a rigid metallic connection. To this end I apply and secure within the tug one or more plates of either sheet or cast metal, each provided with one or more longitudinal'slots for the recept-ion ot' the trace-hook,,hereinafter rej ferred to, and permitting the adjustment in length ot'wthe trace. The series ot' plates extends frol'n the hanne-clip in front to a slide at the rear, through which the trace is passed. At the forward extremity of the trace is secured a hook with a transverse or T shaped head, which hook may be conveniently constructed from the halt' of a llame-clip of ordinary form. The socket-plates, with the exception of the rear one of the. series, are each formed with one or more slots, longer longitudinally than transversely, so as to permit the insertion of-theT-head when the hook is turned in transverse position, and `securely hold it when the hook, with the trace attached, is turned into its longitudinal or working position. The rear plate, or that which is next the trace-slide, and so close thereto as to preclude or prevent the turning ot' the trace end into transverse position, is 'preferably construeted with a T-shaped slot or aperture, so that the hook may be inserted by a direct Imovement into the wider front end of the slot,

and, being drawn back into the rear end, will bev securely'held. A plain slot lor socket ot' sufficient width to admit the hook may, it preferred, he used, as its proximity to the traceslide adaptsthe latter to Vserve as a keeperand prevent its escape.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of my device shortened, s as to admit ot'convenent representation. Fig. Fig.

3 is a perspective view of the chain ot' plates with connected clip, detached from the hametug. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the T- shaped trace-hook detached. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the `rear plate of the chain in modified form. Fig. 6 illustrates another' modification of the slottedplates.

A represents a trace, the main portion of which mayyhe of ordinary construction. Within its forward end is secured a hook, B, resembling in shape one-halt' of a customary han1e-clip,Iand formed with a T-shaped extremity, T. b represents the attened shank 4by which the hook is secured Within the leather after the manner ot' a haine-clip. G O represent slotted plates, which may he connected together after the manner ot' a chain, as illustratedjin Fig. 3, providing a direct metallic connection from the hame-clip Dto the slide" E, through which the trace A is passed. The plates C are provided each with one or more slots, c, which slots, with the exception ot' the rearmost one, c', which is next to the slide, are formed longitudinally, so that they will admit the T-head ot' the hook B only when the latter is turned into transverse position, and will securely hold it when restored to'its normal or working position. The leather ot the tug is suitably perforated over the slots or sockets in the plates to admit the hook. Aconcavity is formed around the margin ot' each slot on the 'inner side of the plate, to accommodate the hook head T without causing any protuber-ance on the face of the. tug next to the horse.

The plates may be. hooked or hinged together or riveted` permanently, or may be separate,and may he either simply inclosed in the leather ot' the tug, or riveted or stitched thereto eitheron the inside or outside.A

In Fig. 3 I have shown these plates connected in the form of a chain, with one end ot' each turned through au eye in the end ot the next plate and riveted on itself, so as to form a link-connection. The hook by which the rear plate C is attached is, preferably, left open to admit otl applying additional plates or detaching the rear plate entirely, if necessary, to extend the length'to suit the tug. y y

In Fig. 5 the plate is shown (as a modication) with provisions for riveting it directly to the adjacent plate. 1 rlhis Inode may be adopted when the link-connection ot the plates illustrated in Fig. 3 is worn by use.

In Fig. 6 is shown the plate With tWo ofthe slots c, said plate being adapted to be riveted to the adjacent plates or directly to the leather of the haine-tug F. It is preferred to use as many as five of the plates C in order to afford the necessary adjustment; but one, or any preferred number, vmay be used with one or more band and the ysuspension-strap, which is at- ;.tached to the back-pad in customary manner.

My invention possesses greatadvantages in neatness and simplicity, andin the security with Which-.the traceis held, and the-facility-afforded for adjusting oreregulatng -its length. even after itmay-have become'dry and hard from age or exposure; also, in leavingthe trace entirely solid, no part of it havingI tobelcut away for the admission of buckle-tongues;

also, in affording a completeconnection of metallic links'or plates from `the l=hame to" the slide, thus adding.v great/strength'to1the2tug5- falso, in presenting asmoothvr and evensrface on the side neXt'the horse, so that it is notvliable to ohafe. It is also economical in construction' both in labor and material. It also affords efficient means of keeping the end of the trace in place. l

The invention is found to work well on 'hipstraps of harness, the open hook at the eX- tremity being adapted vto hook into a ring on the hip-strap, and serves as a gearing for the back-strap. It alsoconstitutes oneof the best trace-carriers. It is also useful as a coupling l for pad-gearing, hip-strap, back-strap, crupper, and tracegearing. It is also applicable to halters, crowns, and other parts of harness.

My tracehook B may be used separately, in connect-ion with or Without the slide or the hame-clip D, but with the slotted plates G C, with two or more slotsto the plate in any part of the harness, where'they may be'used practically for connecting all parts of the harness,

as herein described.

rlhe followlng isvclaimed as new: A haine-tug Vhaving,` one or more longitudinally-slotted metallic socketplates fastened' Withinv theleather of the tug, in combination With a tracehook constructed with a T-head,

substantially as and for the purposes set forth.v

y EDWARD B. ,WINVSLOVW Witnesses:

THOMAS DUNCAN, v HENRY C. HAMILTON. 

